Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-10-29
PACIFIC COAST.
WILD TALE OF LOVE, CRIME AND
ROMANCE.
The McCord Case-State Horticult-
urists - Destructive Fires
Shooting Accident.
lsrEaAl DISPATCHES TO TIE REcoRD-umoN.I ]
BACKwOoDs ROMANCE.
The Strange Story Told by an Alleged
Wife-Murderer.

Wife-Murderer.
lCopyTtgh 1887, by The California Associated Press
MARYsvILLE, October 2Sth.-Jos. Davis.
the man arrested here ON suspicion of be-
ing the individual described as Hash, in the
telegrams from Oregon giving reports of
the murder of his wife and throwing her
DO ~ INTO the Willamette river, was inter
viewed in the city prison here this evening
by your representative. He acknowledged
that he was the man wanted in Oregon for
the alleged murder. He then proceeded, at
the request of the correspondent, to give a
statement of the affair. The following is
the substance Of
THE STORY:
| first met the dead woman about thir-
teen years ago III Lafayette, Or, where l
used to live, and where | have now a
brother practicing law. She was known as
" Alta Castillo and was waiter-girl.
was married at the time, but strong at
tachment sprung up between us. After a
time she married man named Peter Daw-
son.. They lived together twelve years, but
not happily, as there was no love between
them. When my wife died Alta wanted to
get nd OF Dawson, and on August 27th of
last year she left him and her three chtl-
dren, and
LEFT MY FIVE CHILDREN,
And we went off together. | was hunter
ana trapper, and she went with me every
where, sharing my hardships and dong
heavy work. She could shoot and trap
well. She wanted to kill her husband. for
she had a grudge against him, and for a
time dressed herself in mems clothes and
hunted for him, meaning to shoot him. but
she got along very well with me.
LIKE TURTLE DOVES
No two people ever though more of each
other than we did. During the past sum-
mer she was with me constantly. She suf-
tered all summer with chills and fever, and
before her death was very sick We were
camping on the Willamette river, and
heard OF vacant house on the river bank
about four miles from a place called New
Erie. We moved to it in my boat, and oc-
cupied the house. l took the best care of
her l could, and gave her whisky, with
some Oregon root and Chitham wood in it.
SHE GOT OUT OF HER HEAD
With the fever, and started for the river
bank to throw herself into the water. l
followed and caught her and brought her
back to the house. She lay down and al
most Immediately died. / was so crazed
with grief l hardly knew what I was about
afterwards, and my head has been added
ever since. l was afraid to 90 anywhere
and tell of Der death, for fear of being ar.
rested and charged with killing her. | had
no friends to go to. After a few hours
wrapped up the body and put it in the
river. also threw lot of my things in,
and some money, and went away. | first
went to Portland, then to Astoria. and af-
terwards along the Willamette river where
Alta and l used to hunt. Then | went to
4aquina and San Francisco, and was work
ing my way north to Oregon again when
was arrested here.
rot A VERY STRAIGHT STORY.
After telling this story in rambling. dis
connected way, Davis reverted 10 the sub
Ject OF Atlas death, and said she died in a
mt. This was inconsistent with his previous
statement. He further said that he was
born IN Missouri, and was IS years of age.
He had been living in Oregon for twenty
four years. His appearance does not indi-
cate violent or vicious DISPOSITION. He
talks in very sorrowful and feeling way of
Alta, as he calls her
Sheriff Inflow, of this county. who heard
the statement, thinks Davis a little loose
mentally. Officers from Oregon are ex-
pected to arrive tonight to take charge of
the prisoner, after procuring the necessary
requisition.